Finding uni hard, only a week left

I have my final exams coming up this week.

After 4years, I just want to get out of here. I have a job to go to, but only if I pass. But the pressure only makes me work less. People constantly saying to me, just work really hard for this last week and you'll be so happy when it's done. I just can't. I sit there and stare into space. I get tired and fall asleep. I start crying. I get stuck in the thinking that I'm useless and won't ever pass anyway.

It's too late to apply for extenuating circumstances, I thought about it before but I told myself I could manage this year without. Now I'm starting to doubt it.

So I suppose I just carry on how I am, half heartedly revising and just hope that I pass one or two out of the three.

I'm so screwed. Why can't I just get on with it.

Anna, I'm sorry you are feeling so overwhelmed!

Now, let's think about this situation. You can recall, I'm sure, how much anxiety-ridden finals can be in the first place. Now your situation adds finishing and obtaining a job too! Of course you're feeling the stress.

But.... let's further think. It's the end of these courses. You have 4 years of study habits behind you, and the entire course work also. If you have paid attention, attended class, done the work all along, even though right now you are unable to focus, if you work on handling the stress, you'll probably do fine.

Stress causes you to not be able to focus, to feel overwhelmed and even distraught. The chemical changes in your body may cause you to not even be able to read at times...the words might not make sense. For these reasons I would suggest that you take this time before the exam week to work on yourself, and not the material that could be presented on exams.

I always prayed that God would reward me (and others) for the amount of time put into learning whatever knowledge the test was testing, to bring it to mind. Whether you pray or not, you can still rely upon this attitude. What you have studied IS there, it's the stress that causes you to not be able to access it.

Monitor your breathing. Are you breathing slowly and deeply, giving your body good oxygenated blood? That's important, you do know, that the brain receives this. Realize what thoughts you are thinking, what you are saying to yourself. Check those against the 10 Common Cognitive Distortions listing sticky posted at the top of the Psychotherapy Forum. " I get stuck in the thinking that I'm useless and won't ever pass anyway" And "I'm so screwed." are examples of two of them: black and white thinking, and catastrophizing.

If I may, let me give a brief thought. In the first you are telling yourself that no matter what all you have learned, the entire 4 years, means nothing "just because" you are stressed right now. The second means you have no other options but to fail or pass.

Neither of those are really rational thought; they are not accurate.

See if you can watch what you are telling yourself, and replace the negatives with reworded positives. (Such as, I've been taking exams for 4 years and here I am, there's no reason to think I won't do well this time. Yes, I'm more stressed because I think I have to have that job, but even if I pass I might not take that job, I have options. I'm not screwed if I happen to not quite pass all these exams. I didn't take the option offered because I felt I didn't need it, and I probably don't, but if I should have a poor day, it's not the end of my world.)

Let me know if you wish more help... you can visit MLPHolmes' chat tonight on Live the Life you Imagine for more support too!

Thank you sky, certainly gave me some stuff to bear in mind and think about. I was too tired to come to the chat last night (it starts at 1am here) but just reading what you've said does reassure me a bit.

((((((((((((((Anna))))))))))))))))))))))

Finals suck. So does the stress involved in university. So does the uncertainty about life outside of university. So does the stress of being stressed out because of everyone else just telling you to basically "suck it up, it'll be over soon".

I think those people have good intentions, and poor wording.

How have you made it to this point in university? What study habits have you employed/learnt that help? Or coping mechanisms to deal with stress?

I know that I'm a horrible procrastinator. I also don't do well under stress, but I generally DO get things done - just not well (the little voice in my head says: "If only I had started doing this earlier...")

Okay, so you can't get anything deferred at this point.

Remember to breathe. Sky's suggestion is really good.

Pressure just makes one sick... some people can deal with it, some people cannot.

How about this: Think about it rationally and logically. How many hours do you have before your first final? Before your next one? Or the final one? Plan it out on paper right now - do a schedule, planning for a LOGICAL amount of time you can devote to studying. Don't say you'll cram for 12 hours straight (even if it's high hopes) ... unless you can do that and actually study and retain the information!

I like to do my schedule in blocks. It's something my learning strategist taught me actually...

So my schedule looks something like this (but imagine in a chart form, not a list):

Monday:
8am-9am wake up and breakfast
9-10 study (name subject)
10-10:30 - break
11 -12 (because logically a half hour break usually becomes an hour ) lunch/something fun that's not about school.
12-2 study (name subject)
2-3 break
3-5 study (name subject)
5-7 supper and break
7-9 study (name subject)
9pm+ - watch TV or do something fun
(go to bed at a decent hour)

Tuesday
8-9 breakfast
9-3pm work at (name your job)
3-5 break
5-7 supper
7+pm study (name subject)

Wednesday
8-9breakfast
9-12 - volunteer job
12-1 lunch
1-3 study
3-4 break
4-6 study
6-7 supper
7-9 study
9+ watch tv

and so on...

But it's not set in stone. Just try to aim for a reasonable amount of time to study, and try not to procrastinate. Don't beat yourself up if you dont stick to the schedule exactly... and dont plan to study for four hours straight unless you can do it! (Also change when you study to when youre most awake and will study the best... I'm not a morning person by any means myself)

((((((((((Anna))))))))))))))))

What subjects are they in? Do you understand the course material up to this point? Are you going into the final exam with a passing grade, or a barely passing, or an F? (If you're going in with an F, honestly... nothing but a miracle will pull you out unless the exam is like 60%+ of your final grade ... believe me on this one, personal experience)

I've gotten a few failing grades in my life. But your grades do NOT define you as a person. Even if people decide to give you a hard time and make you miserable asking about them... you are not your grades.

I hope you take care of yourself during this time too. As a psych major, my only advice beyond all of this is - REMEMBER TO SLEEP. Things you learn get put into your long term memory (that you use on exams!) when you sleep. otherwise, the info is stuck in "short term memory" and will go POOF! out the window.

Thanks Christina, must've taken you ages to type all that!

My first exam is today, I've got a few hours before I have to leave, so I'm going to go over my notes again.

Then tonight I will be doing some work for tomorows exam. Thursday's is not so bad, and the type of stuff I'll be doing I can't really practice any further than I have.

To be completely honest I don't know how I made it this far in uni. The first year I was ok, very motivated and just got on with my work. The second year I spent the first half starting to loose it mentally, but holding it together as far as work went, slacking off a bit more than the year before. The second half I don't remember much of, I was quite ill at that point and failed one exam because I did not turn up. The decision was then made to take a year out and just do that one exam at the end of it. I just about managed to pass it on my 3rd attempt. This year I've just seemed to have lost all my motivation. I still work in the same ways, making posters and charts to learn the stuff. The content of the work has got a lot harder though (and IMO more boring).

I really don't know what my grades are going to give me classification wise, it really depends on these exams, and whether they use some of my marks from last year (which they probably will, because this years are not good).

I can't say here what the subject of my degree is, I sometimes mention it if there aren't many people around in chat or something, but here too many people might see. Lets just say it's health care related, but not nursing. I definatly do understand all of the content I'm trying to learn, and as I'm revising it I do feel I know it. It's just whether it sticks in my head enough for me to know it to write it down when it comes to it.

Oh and.... I would never forget my sleep, I love it too much!

One down, two to go!

I've done a little revision for tomorow's since being back, but am so tired from the exam I need a nap. Hopefully just have an hour, then have some dinner, then crack on with it again.

I'm guessing fibro gets worse under stress, cause I've been feeling awful pain and tiredness wise recently.

Good luck! I'm checking in with you a few days late... how are you doing??

I admit my grades and performance in university followed your pattern. My first year was my best academic year in my entire life, I kid you not! Then my second year I got depressed and unmotivated and there were a bunch of changes and I basically did really poorly. Then my third year was okay as was my fourth year. My fifth year was absolutely horrid.

I've been in university since September 2004.

(((((((((((((((anna)))))))))))))))))) Stress does nasty things to our bodies. I understand... I hope you manage to get some more rest!

I guess you didn't notice the link, I posted in this forum to say I've finished!!!

Thanks for the support!

My bad! ((((((((((anna))))))))))))) congratulations!

Lol, no worries

Thanks very much for your support though!!